Report of IPL Session in WCDR, Kobe, and further activities

United Nations World Conference on Disaster Reduction and its Thematic Session 3.8: New International Initiatives for Research and Risk Mitigation of Floods (IFI) and Landslides (IPL), Kobe, Japan

18 - 22 January 2005

Group photo of Thematic Session 3.8 key participants.

The United Nations World Conference on Disaster Reduction (WCDR) was held on 18 - 22 January 2005 in Kobe, Hyogo, Japan. The Conference venue was Portopia Hotel and the adjoining International Conference Center and the Kobe International Exhibition Halls, in Kobe, Hyogo Prefecture. It took place immediately after the commemoration of the tenth anniversary of the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake which struck Kobe and its neighboring area in the early hours on 17 January 1995, killing more than 6,400 people and injuring about 40,000. The Conference was organized on the findings of the review of the implementation of the Yokohama Strategy and Plan of Action of 1994, aiming at: Assessing achievements and identifying good practices; Defining the remaining challenges, critical needs and opportunities in disaster reduction initiatives worldwide and examining emerging issues; and, Developing a set of objectives and areas of action for disaster risk reduction to implement the objectives of the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation for Sustainable Development, as essential conditions to achieve the relevant Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

The WCDR was composed of three main processes, namely [A] an intergovernmental segment; [B] a thematic segment for knowledge exchange; and [C] a forum for public participation.

The [B] Thematic segment was intended to complement the discussions on the programme outcome at the intergovernmental level. The Thematic segment consisted of three high-level round tables and a number of parallel sessions (Thematic Sessions) clustered as well as a regional session.

The Thematic Sessions was be directly related to the outcome of the Conference and the issues being discussed in the intergovernmental process. They were clustered together under five themes: (1) Governance: institutional and policy frameworks for risk reduction; (2) Risk identification, assessment, monitoring and early warning; (3) Knowledge management and education: building a culture of resilient communities; (4) Reducing the underlying risk factors; (5) Preparedness for effective response.

Within WCDR, a thematic session: New International Initiatives for Research and Risk Mitigation of Floods (IFI) and Landslides (IPL) was organized by combining two proposed thematic sessions on landslides and floods. The merged session was be organized by UNESCO, WMO, FAO, MEXT of the Government of Japan, UNU, Kyoto University, PWRI, ICL, and IAHS.

This session focused on the launching of new international flood initiative (IFI) and the development of the International Programme on Landslides (IPL) coordinated by ICL. This session was supported by the Cabinet Office of Japan and MEXT-Japan as well as the International meeting series fund of the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) and the MEXT 21st Century COE Program for the Disaster Prevention Research Institute of Kyoto University.

The outline of the session:

The major outcome and follow-up activities of this session will be reported in the following issues.

(a) Title of the session

New International Initiatives for Research and Risk Mitigation of Floods (IFI) and Landslides (IPL)

(b) Full name of all the organizers

United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)

World Meteorological Organization (WMO)

Food and Agriculture Organizations of the United Nations (FAO)

Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT), Japan

United Nations University (UNU)

Kyoto University (KU)

Public Works Research Institute (PWRI)

International Consortium on Landslides (ICL)

International Association of Hydrological Sciences (IAHS)

The objectives of the session were: 1. to launch an international flood initiative as an interagency effort, which originally started as the Joint UNESCO/WMO Flood Initiative (JUWFI). The initiative aims at promoting research, training and capacity building, information networking and technical assistance against flood-related disasters;

2. to develop the International Programme on Landslides (IPL) coordinated by the International Consortium on Landslides (ICL) which was founded with the support of UNESCO, WMO, FAO, UN/ISDR and MEXT in 2002. IPL aims at promoting research, capacity building, awareness raising, information networking and technical assistance against landslide-induced disasters; and

3. to strengthen within the framework of the ISDR research cooperation for earth system risk analysis and sustainable disaster management by discussing a new Memorandum of Understanding as additional international platforms to improve the collaboration between United Nations, national and international entities or organizations to this end.

(d) A brief overview of the subjects being addressed

The concept, background, and action plan of a new international flood initiative to improve and develop risk management measures against increasing flood-related disasters were addressed in detail by the participants. An international centre for water hazard and risk management (CHARM) which will be established as a global facility responsible for the initiative in Tsukuba, Japan, in autumn 2005 was also introduced.

The concept, background, on-going and planned projects of the International Programme on Landslides (IPL) for landslide risk reduction and protection of cultural and natural heritage was presented. Based on the MoU for cooperation on landslide research, signed in 1999 between UNESCO and DPRI/KU, a new Memorandum of Understanding was be proposed to create - within the framework of the ISDR - platforms for earth system risk analysis and sustainable disaster management targeting landslides, floods, and other disasters.

(e) The agenda of the session and speakers

Chair: Mr. Hans van Ginkel (UNU, UN Under-Secretary general)

Moderator: Mr. Andras Szollosi-Nagy (UNESCO)

(1) Opening remarks:

Mr. Koichiro Matsuura (UNESCO)

Mr. Michel Jarraud (WMO)

Mr. Salvano Briceno (UN/ISDR)

Mr. Kazuya Inoue (Kyoto University)

Mr. Tadahiko Sakamoto (PWRI)

(2) Presentation on IFI

Mr. Slobodan Simonovic (Western Ontario University)

Mr. Akira Terakawa (PWRI)

Mr. Kuniyoshi Takeuchi (IAHS)

(3) Presentation on IPL

Mr. Badaoui Rouhban (UNESCO)

Mr. Peter Lyttle (USGS)

Mr. Kyoji Sassa (DPRI/KU and ICL)

(4) Discussion

Comment from Mr. Wolfgang Eder followed by discussion

Information/contact

WCDR web site: http://www.unisdr.org/eng/wcdr/wcdr-index.htm

Yoshiyuki Imamura (IFI)

World Water Assessment Programme (WWAP), UNESCO, Division of Water Sciences

Tel: +33-1-4568-3926 E-mail: Y.Imamura@unesco.org

Kyoji Sassa (IPL)

Research Centre on Landslides, Disaster Prevention Research Institute, Kyoto University

Tel: +81-774-384110, sassa@scl.kyoto-u.ac.jp

Speeches given by Mr. Koichiro Matsuura, Director General of UNESCO (left) and Mr. Michel Jarraud, Director General of WMO (right).

Comments given by Mr. Badaoui Rouhban (left) and Dr. Wolfgang Eder (right) from UNESCO

2) Immediately after the session, Rector Hans van Ginkel of UNU signed the Letter of Intent.

3) The dinner invited by DG Matsuura was organized in the Japanese restaurant “Yawaragi” of Portopia hotel from 7:30 PM on the day.

Key members of session 3.8 including Hans van Ginkel (UNU), Michel Jarraud (WMO), Salvano Briceno (UN/ISDR), Walter Erdelen & Andras Szollosi-Nagy of UNESCO, Tadao Sakamoto (PWRI), Kyoji Sassa (ICL), and other major participants of WCDR including Patricio Bernal (UNESCO), Joke Waller-Hunter (UNFCCC), Koichi Nagasaka (JMA) and Takahiro Sinyo (MOFA). Letter of Intent documents were delivered to Briceno, Jarraud and Erdelen from Sassa after the end of dinner.

Dinner invited by UNESCO DG K. Matsuura (left). Sassa showed the Letter of Intent (right)